Abstract
The author intends to examine information flow at the technological research front by analyzing a Japanese national project in the field of computer technology. Bibliographical data and records of academic presentations of said research project were analyzed. The hypotheses gained were verified by interviewing researchers and engineers. The major points are as follows:
1) The greatest majority of information from the most advanced research and development is disseminated at meetings, not in the form of formal publications.
2) Journal articles remain as effective information media only in academic fields.
3) Japanese researchers and engineers at the research front in computer science fields present most of their information in Japanese.
4) According to their specific activity of transmitting information, researchers and engineers are classified into four types: core, information carrier, isolated, and peripheral researchers.
The author believes that this analysis is useful for designing information services, and for defining engineering library collection policies, at the research front.